MLB Pipeline ranks the New York Mets’ Brett Baty as the sixth best third base prospect

Simeon Woods-Richardson
Mar 23, 2019; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; A view of the Grapefruit League logo on the hat of New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano (24) prior to the game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

MLB Pipeline released its most recent list of top 10 third base prospects. Luckily for the New York Mets, a very talented young player checks in at number six.

Brett Baty, the Mets’ first-round draft pick in 2019, made the list and belongs with several top names such as Alec Bohm, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Nolan Gorman and Nolan Jones.

In 2019, Baty played at three levels in the Mets’ farm system. In the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) he had a .350/.480/.650 line with a 1.130 OPS, a home run, 8 RBI, 3 doubles and 5 runs in 20 at bats. He excelled in a small sample-size.

He spent most of the season in the Appalachian League, which is a more advanced rookie circuit. There, he played 42 games and had 158 at-bats. In total, he scored 30 runs and hit 12 doubles, 2 triples and 6 homers, with 22 RBI. He struggled to make contact as his .222 average and 56 strikeouts suggest, but took lots of walks thanks to his good eye. Overall, he had a .222/.339/.437 line and a .775 OPS in the league.

Baty also had a short stint in the Class A-short season New York Penn League. He only had 10 at-bats there and got on base at a .529 clip thanks to his plate discipline.

The New York Mets’ future at the hot corner

MLB Pipeline assigned very good scouting grades to Baty, including a 55 overall. That translated to a well-above average, regular player.

The 20-year old was the Mets’ choice as an “old” high school senior thanks to a monster season at Lake Travis (Texas) HS. There, he batted .615 with 19 home runs.

Between the three levels he played in 2019, Baty had an .821 OPS with 25 extra-base hits (7 HR). He is an advanced hitter that should be in the Mets’ plans come 2022.

He has considerable raw power thanks to his bat speed and the loft in his swing. That, combined with his patient approach, will likely lead to high OPS marks in the majors.

He may not be extremely speedy, but he is deceptively athletic and has the tools to be an average defender at the hot corner. He has more than enough arm for the position, being clocked at 92 mph in high school as a pitcher.

All in all, Baty is a special prospect. He has the tools and the makeup to be a 25+ home run hitter with a very high OBP.

The complete top 10 list of third base prospects is as follows:

  1. Alec Bohm (Philadelphia Phillies)
  2. Ke’Bryan Hayes (Pittsburgh Pirates)
  3. Nolan Jones (Cleveland Indians)
  4. Nolan Gorman (St. Louis Cardinals)
  5. Josh Jung (Texas Rangers)
  6. Brett Baty (New York Mets)
  7. Bobby Dalbec (Boston Red Sox)
  8. Jonathan India (Cincinnati Reds)
  9. Abraham Toro (Houston Astros)
  10. Kody Hoese (Los Angeles Dodgers)